Early childhood activities,
lesson plans and ideas about insects, bugs and fuzzy wuzzy creepy crawlers.
Gayle's Preschool Rainbow is very grateful to Pam S. of Pam's Playground
and the many other teachers who generously contribute to this pre-school
activity collection.

A Spider
Web of FactsHolly O. shares this fun way for children to
review the facts that they've learned about spiders.

Materials: Ball of white yarn, large piece
of dark bulletin board paper or a dark inexpensive plastic tablecloth
and tape.

Description: Place paper or tablecloth
on the floor and have children sit in a large circle just on the
outside of it. Show the children how to play by taking the ball
of yarn and throwing it to another adult. Have the adult state a
fact that was learned about spiders and, holding onto a piece of the yarn,
throw the ball to someone sitting in another part of the circle.
That person states a fact, holds onto the yarn and throws the yarn to
someone else. If possible, have an adult record the
facts as they are spoken; if not, memory should be sufficient! Continue
until each person has had a turn. Have children hold onto their
yarn until the teachers can tape it to the paper. It forms a great
spider web.Holding the paper carefully, put the web on
a bulletin board or wall. Type or write the facts and glue them
on the web along with the Itsy Bitsy Spider
himself.

Comments: I was amazed at how much the children
not only enjoyed participating but also in showing off the web to visitors.
I was also pleased to discover how many facts they remembered!

Literacy:
The Itsy Bitsy Spider Preschoolers share in the writing of a class
big book during this preschool education activity by Holly O.

Description: Once the children are familiar
with the song "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", we talk about the waterspout and brainstorm
where else the Itsy Bitsy Spider might crawl. Optional: Read The
Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani to give children ideas; up the kitchen wall,
the yellow pail, etc.

Children then draw a picture and write or
dictate the words where they think the spider will crawl. If some children have
trouble getting an idea; the teachers' suggestion that they look around the room seems
to be all the encouragement they need. Teachers then compile the
papers into a class big book, making sure that each child's name is written
clearly at the top of the page. The book is now ready to be read
and reread!

Comments: I had the children do their work
on large paper and then used the copier to shrink it down to 8-1/2" x
11" size to make a copy of the book for each child to take home at the
end of the year. This idea was well received by parents and children
alike. Because the children were so familiar with the song, they
were able to "read" the book easily. The book served as a good reminder
of the friends made at preschool.

Worm
WiggleYoungsters move like worms to music during
this early childhood activity by Jennifer and Marilyn H.

Materials: Music & Earthworms.

Description: Show examples of earthworms and
discuss how they move. Give the children time to talk and hold the
worms if they want to. Children now pretend to be worms and move
like them. Roll, bend, wiggle, etc. Have the children lie on their
stomachs, holding their arms at their sides and try to move forward without
using their hands or elbows, just like a worm would wiggle. Put on music
and go.

Comments: This is really fun to watch.

Worms
in DirtDuring this art activity Marilyn H.
teaches children that worms live UNDER the ground.

Description: Each child receives a whole piece
of brown paper and a half sheet of green. Have the children glue
the worms on the brown paper . Children can cut the green paper
to look like grass and glue it to the top of the paper.

Materials: Worm pattern, child safety scissors
and a marker for the teacher.

Description: Draw a worm shape. Copy
the shape and divide the copy into segments. Write the numbers 1-10 on the
segments. Children cut the numbered segments and glue to the whole
shape finishing the puzzle.Cooking:
Edible Ants Donna H. suggests this tasty snack after
a unity of study on ants.

Description: Your little ones will want to
dig into this tasty snack!Put graham crackers in a sandwich baggie and
crush. Put chocolate covered raisins (ants) in bottom of a clear cup. Sprinkle
the crushed graham crackers over the raisins and enjoy!

Description: Give children a paper plate
and let them paint it red. Then give them watermelon seeds to glue on to the
ladybug for spots. Next, punch a hole for the pipe cleaner and let them
thread the pipe cleaner through the hole and make the antennas

Cooking:
Strawberry LadybugsTry this sweet treat
by Lisa C.

Materials: Strawberrys,
chocolate, paper and baking cases.

Description: Melt the
chocolate in a glass or plasic bowl. Cut each strawberry in half, lenghtways.
Invite the children,one at a time, to come and put a spoonful of melted
chocolate, with the flat side down.help
the children to put some chocolate at the pointed end of the strawberry
for the ladybugs head, then a line down the middle for the wings. Help
the children to put the chocolate spots on the wings.Let them set, then enjoy!

Literacy:Charlotte's
Web "Sweet Charlotte Spiders"Kim D. first reads with children and
then cooks with them.

Description: Read Charlotte's Web
by E.B. White. "Charlote's Web" is the story of the endearing
friendship of Charlotte, the barn spider, and Wilbur, the lovable
pig. With the help of Templeton the rat and a clever plan
of their own, Charlotte saves the life of her dear friend.

1. Sprinkle the cocoa on a paper
plate and set aside. 2. Mix the peanut butter and the
powdered sugar together. 3. Form two balls, one for the
head of the spider and the other for the body. 4. Gently roll the spider in cocoa. 5. Use chow mien noodles for the
legs.

1. The emotions of loneliness,
fear, grief, pain, and happiness are woven throughout this book.
Select two of these emotions and write a poem about them. Compile
the poems in a class book. 2. Charlotte talks about her spider
cousins. Create a family album for Charlotte. 3. Fern can understand the language
of the farm animals. Select three farm animals and research the
ways they communicate. 4. Fern matures in this book.
Pretend you are the Fern and make three entries in her diary, one from
the beginning, one form the middle, and one from the end.

Comments: I know my 4 and 5 year olds can't
write, but we adjust the ideas to fit them. Lots more cooking experiences are in the Food
and Nutrition Theme

Pom
Pom InsectsLaura promotes color and body part recognition
as she encourages children to use their imagination during this early
childhood activity.

Description: Using pompoms, children can arrange
them in a line to create a caterpillar or stack them on top of each other
to create a bumble bee. Use eyes to give the creations life and construction
paper for other features such as; mouth wings, antennas, feet, and shoes
(for the athletic bug!). Or create a hat with a pom
pom on top! Ideas are endless once they start coming alive.

Comments: Most preschoolers like to create
and once you give them an idea stand back and away they go. My three year
olds had a great time gluing and they were so proud of their bugs they
couldn't wait to take them home!

Materials: A large clear plastic container
with a lid (we use a 2L. pop bottle or empty candy containers from our
local corner store), soil, grass seed and snails.

Description: Teachers rinse out the container
and put soil in. Sprinkle grass seed on top and water. Place
container in a bright area (preferably near a window), keep it well
watered. Once the grass starts to grow, hunt out a few snails and
put in the jar. Make sure the lid is kept on when not supervised,
as well that the lid has some air holes in it.

The children love to watch the snails and
if someone takes the snails out of the container, some children will want
to hold them. We do Snail
Trail Art by letting the snails crawl on a dark colored
piece of paper.

A favorite of our children is a Snail
Circus. Take 4 wooden blocks and tape a piece
of string across the tops, leaving a space of 6 or more inches in between.
Cross the strings in the middle. Put a snail on two of the blocks
and watch the Tightrope Act begin. This shows the children
how the snails are able to maneuver along the plants they go on.

Snails can be very entertaining.
I used to think they were gross until a 3 year old asked me to hold one.
Now I hold them all the time in class to show the children how neat they
are!

Snake
Ties Pat D. shares this creative pre-k and
kindergarten activity for a dramatic effect during a reptile or jungle
theme.

Materials: Old ties, cotton batting, red felt
tongue and goole eyes.

Description: Stuff tie from both ends, using
a dowel stick to help push batting into place. Glue tongue and eyes
in place whenMr. Snake is properly stuffed.

Comments: The kids are wild about these snakes
wrapping them around their necks, having snake races and hiding them .

Description: Teachers take rubber fishing
worms and tie string to them. Place different color paints onto
a paper plate. Place a worm in each color of paint. Let the
children dip the worms in and out of the paint and them bop them up and
down onto the paper as if fishing. Very cute artwork!

Comments: The children love this activity
and it is great to use during pond themes.

Cooking:
Worms and DirtIncorporate cooking with science. April
N. says, "A fun and tasty activity to go with lessons on insects and
worms."

Description: After a discussion of worms,
where they live etc., this activity can be used. After washing up,
tell the children what needs to be done: the measurement of milk, mixing,
crumbling and adding the graham crackers.

Now the youngsters can take turns pouring
the milk into the measuring cup, and then pouring it into the bowl. Each
child can take a turn mixing the milk and pudding together in the bowl.
Mixing by hand lets the children do more.

Next, they can decide what they would like
with their pudding, plain, with worm or cracker crumbs etc. Explain
that it must be chilled in the fridge. They can eat and enjoy this
creepy crawly snack!

Comments: This activity is a good treat and
they get a thrill from eating "worms and dirt!

Creepy
Crawling "Spiders"Risa A. offers
this activity saying, "Depending on the age group children will begin
to process information about different bugs. We read a lot of books
on spiders (informative and fun ones). Book: The Very Busy
Spider

Description: Put
out newspaper, paint brushes and paint. Allow the children to choose
the color or colors of their spider. This could take two days depending
on the length of your programs day. Once dried use a hole puncher
to punch in 4 wholes on each side. Allow the children to put in
the pipe cleaner legs and glue on as many eyes as they wish. Some
spiders have over 100 eyes. The children will love their creepy crawly
spiders!

Comments: We had a ball.
We sang Raffi's song,

"There's a Spider on
the Floor"

Firefly
Fun ActivityIn this large group activity flashlights imitate
fireflies.

Materials: 2 flashlights

Description:Have children stand in a circle with their
hands behind their backs. Dim the lights. Provide 2 flashlights that areeasily
turned off and on. Have the group sing the song below. When they sing
"See my light flicker" the children holding flashlights begin to turn
them off and on and pair up at the center of the circle. They then give
theflashlights to two different children. Continue
to play until each child has had a turn.

I'M A FIREFLY

I'm a little firefly
Look at me!
I'm as happy as I can be.
See my light flicker and shine so bright
Now watch me fly into the night!

Description:Teachers spray paint about 85 large lima beans
red. That's 78 for the game and extras. When the beans are dry provide
fine tip markers (permanent) and invite the children to add the dots.
Label each container of an egg carton withnumbers 1-12. Store the ladybugs
in plastic bag. To use this center, a child must match the correct number
of ladybugs in the numbered space.

Ladybug Facts:*Ladybugs can be red or yellow with black,
red, white, or yellow spots. *There are about 150 species of ladybugs in
the U.S.*In winter, 50 to 100 ladybugs hibernate together.

Art:
Flying LadybugsApril N. shares, "A fun art activity
to aid in learning about insects which includes science and math."

Description: After looking at books and pictures
about ladybugs, this activity allows each child to have their own.
First each child colors their paper plate black, with marker or crayon.
This the the body.Then they choose red or black construction
paper for the wings. They make the spots on the wings with the bingo markers.

The wings are then attached with help from
the teacher. A hole is poked through the wings, overlapping, and the plate.
The fastener is pushed through. This allows the wings to open so the ladybug
can fly.Then each child can add the pipe cleaner for
antennae and legs if they choose.

The antennae can be attached by poking a hole
in the head area of the plate and pulling the Antonio through, twisting
it in place.The bingo marker will need to dry a little
before they are played with.

Comments: The children loved this and afterwards
flew their ladybugs around the playground.

Pretty
LadybugTry this feltboard counting pre-school activity.

Materials:Large felt cutout of a ladybug - circle shape
with a head shape added, all one piece. Thin black magic marker linedown the middle and wiggly eyes. Also 10 black
felt spots.

Using the above song, children or teacher can
add a spot each verse, thus teaching numbers sequentially as high as developmentally
appropriate for the children. Spots can also be placed randomly with the
child announcing how many he/she has placed and then singing the song. Children
also enjoy playing individually with the set.

Description:Cut two pieces of felt into oval shapes that
are flat on one end - need to fit on hand! Then cut two wings to glue
onto felt body. Glue on buttons for spots and wiggle eyes, pipe cleaner
antennae.

I always let kids choose felt colors to make
ladybugs. We've had some interesting combos!

Fingerprint
LadybugsCourtney L. suggests this activity "To
teach children about insects through artwork."

Materials:Washable
paint, construction paper, markers.

Description: Teachers ask the children to
press their thumbs on red stamp pads and make thumbprints on pieces of
paper. Then let them turn the thumbprints into ladybugs by adding dots
and six legs to each print. This project can also be adapted to make bees
and butterflies.

Ant
Facts* Each nest has a handful of males, less queens
and lots of workers.* Three balls (head, thorax, abdomen), six
legs. * They smell with their antennae (very sensitive).* They cooperate. * It's the queens job to lay the eggs, the
males help her.* Some workers build the nests, some take care
of the eggs, some hunt for food, some take care of the queen.* Worker ants have two stomachs (one holds
their food the other is for sharing.)

Observing AntsAnts can teach us how some insects work together
as a community. Watch ants scurry in and out of their ant hills or find
some spilled food on the sidewalk. Do they eat their food on the spot,
or carry it back to their anthill? When an ant finds food, it runs back
to the hill to "tell" the others. As it runs, it leaves a trail that other
ants in the hill can smell. The ants find the food by smelling their way
along the trail. If possible, set up an ant farm.

Ant
Ideas An Ant Counting PicnicTeachers cut about 4 shapes of picnic foods
1-4" in size from construction paper. I use a chicken leg, cookie, strawberry,
anda watermelon slice. Using plastic ants, see how many ants it takes
to cover each food and record the answers.

Dramatic PlayTeachers and children make a big box into a
picnic basket. Make Ants pipe cleaner antennas & add them to the play
area. Now children can pretend to be ants around a picnic basket. Add
play food for them to carry away.

Fine Motor Control:
Tweezer AntsHave small containers, plastic ants and tweezers.
Have the children try to pick up the ants with the tweezers and place
them into the containers.

Easy
"Cooking": Ants on LogThis classic recipe for a healthy early childhood
snack is offered by Kuppal N

Materials: Celery stick, peanut butter,
raisins and a plastic knife.

Description: Cut the celery sticks in
3 inch pieces then spread peanut butter in the hollow side. Place
raisins one after the other.

Materials:
2 bags of small assorted bugs (may be purchased at any store
that sells toys), 2 large bowls or containers, 2 Tweezers, 2 cupcake tins
or about 8-10 small containers for sorting.

Description: This is a table activity
for at least 2 children. Set out the cupcake tins and the two large
bowls or containers. Then mix up the bugs and divide them into the two
large bowls. Show the children the tweezers and the appropriate
ways to use them and then allow them to play. The children will automaticly
sort, count, match and explore.

Walking
BugsKuppal N. suggests this easy health
snack. Just be carefull with the toothpicks.Materials: Cherries

Description: Take the stem off the cherries
without breaking. Use a toothpick and put 3 cherries together in
a row. Use the stems to make legs for the bugs.

Beehive
GameTry this creative approach
when teaching about items that begin with the letter "B".You will need:Small box, brown paper,
construction paper, pictures of things that start with 'B', Picture of
other things that don't.

Description:Teachers cover a small
box with brown paper to make a beehive. Cut a slit in the top of the beehive
and label it with the letter B. Cut bee shapes out of construction paper.
Glue pictures of things that have names beginning with B and pictures
of things that have names beginning with other letters on the bee shapes.

Explain to the children
that only the bees that have pictures of things whose names begin with
'B' can go into the 'B' hive. Then let the children take turns selecting
a bee and deciding whether or not it can go into the beehive.

Queen
Bee Circle GameChildren sit in a circle
on the floor. The Queen Bee walks around the circle tapping children on
the head and saying, "Buzz, buzz, buzz", with each tap. Each child tapped
gets out of the circle and follows the Queen around. When the Queen calls,
"Go make honey" those tapped and the Queen bee run off to an empty spot.
The last one tothe spot is the new Queen
Bee.

"Bee"utiful
MusicCombine art and music
with this activity.

You will need: White
paper, bumble bee stickers, black crayons, a record player, the recording,
"Flight of the Bumblebee".

Description:Teachers give each child a 9x12 piece of white
paper with a small bumble bee sticker in the corner. Also provide
each child with a black crayon. Then play the recording of "The Flight
of the Bumblebee" and ask the children to imagine that their crayon is
the bee flying on the paper and draw its path.

Fingerpainting
BeesPromote the development of motor skills with
this fingerpainting activity.

Description:Pre-school children finger paint to Rimsky-Korsakov's
"Flight of the Bumble Bee." Mix tempera paint 1-1 with hand lotion. This
makes a great finger painting medium. Be sure to use thick glossy paper
to paint on. If you don't have good paper, be brave and paint on the table
top. Put the music on and begin to paint to the music!

Spider
HuntTeresa G. suggests this hunt that becomes
an exploration of nature.

Materials: String, plastic spiders,
container for caught spiders.

Description:1. Ahead of time, teachers hide plastic
spiders in the outdoor play area and write down where the spiders
are in the play area so that all spiders can be found.

2. Have the children go to the bathroom,
wash their hands, and put their coats on before going outside.

3. Tell the children that we are
going on a spider hunt. Now if you find a spider, don't touch the
spider because you may hurt it. Come get me when you find one.

4. Ask children, where do you
think we could find a spider?

5. Let the children lead the hunt,
and follow behind asking questions and answering questions. You
may need to lead children toward the spiders.

6. When a spider is found, ask
the children: " Is it a spider? What does it look like? Why
do you think it lives here?"

Description: You will be throwing a
ball of yarn in a circle, each person holds on to a piece of the yarn
as they toss the ball to another person until the yarn is gone. When the
web is formed talk about a spiders web and how it is made and it's use.

For circle time you could read the
book "The Very Busy Spider" by Eric Carle.

Materials: 1. Black construction paper2. White paint3. Card board box (The kind of
flat box you might see used a the grocery store with the canned goods),
about a foot and a half long and a foot wide with a two to three inch
side. 4. One to two marbles

Description: Put the black paper in
the middle of the box. Add in the white paint (a little on the outside
of the black paper). You might have to mix in a little water with the
white paint because if it's too thick it might not work as well.
Drop in the marble(s)and make a spider web by rolling the marble around
inside the box.

Spider
CookiesA treat offered by Vickie S. "To develop
small motor skill for writing and this activity also gives
the opportunity to learn proper hand washing and cleanliness."

Materials:1. 1 Box of oreo cookies2. 1 Bag of twizlers licorice (what ever
color you choose) (The kind that peals off little strings)3. 1 bag M&M plain candies4. Frosting Optional: With decorator bag or you could just
use plastic knives, spreaders or spatchulas.

Description: First, everyone needs to wash their hands.
Let the children peal off 8 strings of licorice (Not more than three
inches in length)

-Take apart the oreo cookies

-Frost the inside of the cookie and put four
pieces of licorice on one side then the other for spider legs.

-Put the cookie together with the "legs" inside

-Put to spots of frosting on the outside
of the cookie and attach the M&M's for the spider eyes.

Eat them for snack. (or whenever you'd
like) Comments: We did this activity during
"Bug" week. Yummy!

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